Josh Allen vs Sam Darnold: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) averaged 22.0 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks, 14.7 PPG) by 7.3 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
That 7.3-point weekly advantage for Josh Allen is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Josh Allen offers meaningful rushing upside with 579 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Sam Darnold (4048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.
One scheduling note: Josh Allen is off Week 12 and Sam Darnold Week 10. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
